Washing machine



Sept.- 2, 1941. K. CLARK WASHING MACHINE Filed June l0, 1937 INVENTOR. Emma CZQQK BY 7m 0M v ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 Kendall 01m, .South Bend, 11s., assignor to Bendix Home Appliances, Inc., Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Application June 10, 1937, Serial No. 141,424

11 Claims.

This invention relates to machines such as washing machines and the like, and particularly to providing therefor a normally-sealed opening for introducing material such as soap.

An object of the invention is to provide an effective construction adapted to be made up mainly of stampings, so.that it can be made economically by mass-production methods. An: other object is to provide a construction in which the parts yieldingly seal tightly together without requiring any high degree of accuracy in manuiacture. y

In the arrangement illustrated, the machine has a pivoted door provided with a closure normally yieldingly seated against a. sealing mom-- ber, and various features oi novelty relate to the construction and arrangement'of the parts of the door and the sealing means and oi the means for normally latching it closed.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective ,view, broken away in vertical section centrally of the door, of the top 1 part of a washing machine; and

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively sideand iront elevations of a novel latch. used for hold-.

ing the door closed.

The invention is shown embodied in the soap door of an automatic washing machine, the particular machine illustrated being fully described in application No. 129,412, filed March 6, 1937,

by Adiel Y. Dodge.

The machine includes spaced top members to and I2, both which are substantially horizontal and parallel so far as they relate to the present invention. Member I is the'top of a cylindrical stationary tub arranged with its axis horl-' zontal and member i2, is a fiat detachable. panel forming a removable top for the machine. Some of the constructions described below are of especial utility in cooperative relationship to two separable members such as those illustrated, in

that there are no parts to uniasten or detach when separatingthe members illand I2, while yet all the parts automatically assume the desired relationship when members l0 and, I! are put back together again, without fastening or adjusting anything.

The tubmember I0 is shown formed with a circular opening, surrounded by a tubular flange ll, shown formed on a separate stamping it permanently welded to the member ID. The flange rubber seal or gasket l8, having a cylindrical external surface, and formed with an upwardlyfacing inclined surface or seat 20.

- I The upper or panel member I! is formed with 5 a rectangular opening alined with the opening in the tub member I, and over which is arranged a stamping 22 having its margin permanently welded to the under face of the panel member I 2.- The member 22 is centrally formed with a. tubular flange 24 encircling the flange id, and which normally fits over and seals against the cylindrical exterior of the sealing member H8. -The central portion of the; stamping 22 is depressed sufficiently so that the door described below closes flush with the top of the panel member I2.

The member 22 is slotted at opposite sides at 24 for a pair of, curved .hinge arms 25, formed as steel stampings having their upper ends inturned and spot-welded or otherwise secured to the lower face of a rectangular and peripherallyflanged stamped steel door 28. The lower ends of the arms 28 are pivotally mounted on a hinge rod 80 arranged between the members iii and I2 and carried bytwo stamped brackets 32 arranged at its ends and spot-welded or otherwiselszecured to the lower face of the upper member Torsion coil springs 34 sleeved on the ends of the hinge rod 35 have their inner e'ndsbearing against the lower .face of the member 12 or of the margin of the stamping 22', and have their outer ends hooked into holes through the hinge arms 28; these springs are tensioned sumciently 35 to raise the door 28 to its upper position, as illustr'ated, whenever the latch described below is released. The arms are shown as having rubber rings 36 sleeved thereon; when the door 28 is open these engage the lower face of member 40 22. and serve as stops determining the open position of the door.

The door. 28 has welded or otherwise mount- 'ed.thereon a pin 30 projecting perpendicularlyfrom its lower face, andvextending through a central opening in a cup-shaped stamped closure 4D. A spring 42 is compressed between the door 28 and'the closure 4|, urging the latter.

downwardlyas far as permitted by a stop i such 4 as a cotter pin carried by the end or the pin The peripheryoi the closure is conical, and when the door 28 is closed the closure seats tighly and yieldingly into the inclined seat on the sealing member 20.

The door It is-shown formed with a tongue H has seatedf on its upper edge an annular or flange 48, serving as a catch engaged (when bracket 6| to limit releasing movement the the door is closed) by a novel latch to hold the door closedagainst the resistance of springs 34. The latch consists oi the forward edge 01 a latch plate It, projecting through a cutout I! in the 58 on a. bracket 8. overlying the latch 10 plate 50 and ,spot-welded or otherwise secured to the lower face oi the member 22. The

latch plate ill is shown with an upwardly-turned flange 62 which iorms a stop engaging the edge. of

The latch plate It may be perforated and have a. phenol-type plastic operating button l0 molded permanently thereon. The operating part In is thick enough to project upwardly through an opening in the panel member i2.

It will be noted that depressing the part 10 swings the latch plate ill back to release the catch 48," whereupon the springs 34 swing the door to open position. After feeding the desired 5 amount of soap powder or other material into the washing machine, the operator closes the door 28 again, whereupon the latch again engages a catch it.

suitable spring urging it into locking position. The one shown is a bowed. piece of spring wire 12 arranged between. the latch plate II and the bracket ll, with its ends projecting through holes in'the arms I! and with its bowed central ss portion engaging the back of .theflange 82. r

While one illustrative embodiment has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention to that partermed with flanges surrounding the openings and projecting toward each other-and one oi which encircles the other, a member of yielding material forming a seal between said flanges and having an upwardly-facing inclined seat for the opening through the inner flange, a door mounted on the top one or said members. and a closure yieldingly mounted on the door and engageabie with said seat. v

4. A washing machine or the like comprising spaced members having alined openings and formed with flanges surrounding the openings and projecting toward each other and one of which-encircles the other, a member of yielding material forming a seal between said flanges and having an upwardly-facing inclined seat for the opening-through the inner flange, a door mount ed on the top one of said members, a spring urging said door open, a latch for holding said door closed, and a closure yieldingly mounted on the door and engageable with said seat.

. 5. A washing machine or the like comprising spaced members having alined openings and formed with flanges surrounding the openings and projecting toward each other and one oi which encircles the other, material forming a seal between said flanges and having an'upwardly-iacing inclined seat for the opening through the inner flange, a door mount- The latch plate Il may be provided with a 30 closed; and a closure carried by the door and engageable with said seat.-

6. A washing machine or the formed with flanges surrounding the openings and projecting toward each other and one of which encircles the other, a member 01' yielding material forming a seal between said flanges and ticular embodiment, or otherwise than by the so having m s l aciu incuned seat for the vided with a downwardly projecting flange fltting around and peripherally contacting said seal and encircling the flrst flange, a doo pivotally mounted on said panel. a closure carried by said door and engsgeable with said sealing member, a spring between the door and closure and which urges the closure against the sealing member when .the door is closed. a spring urging thedoor open, and a latch for holding the door closed,

2. A washing machine or the like comprising a. top wall having an opening for the introduction 01' material such as soap and provided with an upstanding flange surrounding said-opening and with a yielding sealing member mounted on the-edge of. said flange. a top panel having an opening registering with the flrst openin and provided with a downwardly .projecting'flan e fltting around and peripherally contacting said seal and encircling the flrst flange. av door pivotaliy mounted on sdid panel, .a closure carried by said door and ngaseable with said sealin to for l in member, and a spring between the door and.

closure and which urges the closure against the sealing member when the'door is closed.

8. A washing machine or the like comprising spaced members having'alined and- Withintheinclinedseat. N,

to the 55 closure engageable with k seat, a spring yieldingly holding the closure against the seat.and a. member taking the reopening through the inner flange. a closure engageable with said seat; a spring yieidingly holding the closure taking the reaction of the spring and connected closure and movable to shiitthe closure away from the seat --7.Awasbingmachineorthe.like qmprising spaced members having. alined openings and formed with flanges surrounding the openings and'projecting toward each other and one of which encircles the other. a member 01' yielding material forming a seal between said'ilanges and having an upwardly-facing inclined seat for the opening through the inner flange. a conical and fitting Within said action 01' the spring and connected to the closure and movable to shift the closure away irom;the

seat.

8. A washing machine or the like comprising spaced members having alined openings and formed with flanges the openings and projecting towardeach other and one 01' a which encircles the other, a member of yieldmaterial forming a seal between said flanges and having an upwardly-lacing inclined seat for the opening through the inner flange, a door mounted on the top one oi said members,.a latch the door and engageabie with said seat and a spring en a ing the door and the closure for yieldingly pressing the closure onto the seat, said closure a cup-shaped conical part fltting a member or yielding.

like comprising spaced members having alined openings and against the seat, and e member said door closed, a closure carried by opening through the inner flange, a pivot rod between said members atone side of said flanges.

a doorhaving hinge arms passing through slotsin the upper member and pivoted on said rod,'

means on the door for sealing engagement with said seat, coil springs sleeved on the rod and acting in torsion on said arms to open the door, and a latch for holding the door shut.

10. A washing machine or the like comprising spaced members having alined openings and formed with flanges surrounding the openings and projecting toward each other and-one oiwhich encircles the other, a member of yielding material forming a seal between said flanges and having an upwardly-facing inclined seat for the opening through the irmer flange, a pivot. rod betweensaid members at one side of said flanges. a door having hinge arms passing through slots in the upper member and pivoted on said rod,

means on the door for sealing engagement with said seat, means acting yieldingly on-said arms to open the door, and a latch for holding the door shut. 11. A washing machine or formed with flanges surrounding the openings and projectingqtoward each other andone of which encircles the other, a member of yielding 4 material forming a seal between said flanges and having anupwardly-facing inclined seat for the opening through the inner flange, a pivot rod between said members at one side of said flanges,-

a doorhaving hinge varmspassi'ng through slots in the upper member and pivoted on said rod,

and means onthe door for sealing engagement with said seat. a

the like comprising spaced members having alined openings andn 

